Again this chapter rewritten Hope you all enjoy it and As always
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Chapter 6: Not Part Of The Plan
Elsa groaned as she stretched, Lyra had her working for the both of them since her shoulder was still healing. When first having to do this she had been sore for days after but since it became a daily thing, she felt more accomplished doing such things with her hands. However today was a day of constant travel and now they stopped for the night so suffice to say she was glad to be able to stretch her legs.
As she walked through many of the hired swords acknowledged her passing with smiles and nods, she doing the same stopping when several of the men asked if she could mend some of their shirts and clothes. It was something they had recently discovered of the Queen. A hidden talent Elsa was very humble about. Though she could create new clothes with her magic, she had come to enjoy and experiment creating silky fabrics from colors all around her and using the frabics at hand to mix and match. Still though she felt more accomplished when creating needle and thread of ice and sewing together something of her own creation.
She smiled taking the torn and ripped clothing heading back to the tent she created herself being as Lyra never really used her own and it was used more as for the wounded and sick. There was no protest of this and there were always guards posted at her tent. Holden though no longer tied and kept on a leash, was kept separate from her being as he was deteremined to runaway with the Queen back to Arendelle should the opportunity present itself.
With her tent in sight Elsa was pleasantly surprised to find El heading to the same direction. After that evening in the forest there had been a shift in things a change whenever she and the other woman were within the same space. Of course at first Elsa did her best to ignore and stay away, but there was only so long she could do so before El reappeared. What surprised her though was that El gave her the space and did not push for them to talk instead giving a greeting in passing when needed but that was about it. She had heard many of the mercenaries speak of the coming winter and how harsh it would be. Many hunted in small groups El usullay with them, at first when keeping away Elsa was glad for it. Soon though as time passed, she found herself intentionally looking for the woman with mystic eyes.
~ "Speaking with her might just help lessen your worry." Lyra had commented as they cleaned the large pot.
"I don't know what you mean." She replied smoothly.
Lyra snorted using some of the water they gathered to wash away what they cleaned. "Don't think I have not noticed. I know you're avoiding each other. How long do you think it will last? We are traveling together."
Elsa sighed putting down the bowls in her hands, "I wouldn't know what to say." She admitted. "El confuses me."
"I have to admit…"Lyra began mirth coloring her voice, "Its amusing to see El confused just as much."
"I don't understand how I could confuse her as much as she does me…she is unique."
Drying her hands Lyra turned to look the Queen over, "Do you enjoy her company?"
"Isn't it wrong to? I mean, technically you're all my kidnappers…I shouldn't be as I am and yet…"
"Yet?"
Shaking her head Elsa didn't wish to speak about it instead she wished the other blonde a good night. Walking back to her tent she was halted by none other then the subject of her thoughts and previous conversation. El fiddling with something in her hands.
"What are you doing?" she found herself asking before realizing the question had passed her lips. This prompted El to look up from her focus surprised by the question. "Queen Elsa…I." she seemed to be floundering for words until finally letting loose a sigh. "Sorry you surprised me, I had expected to find Lyra…she usually helps me with these things." Elsa watched as the mercenary held up what looked to be a torn pair of trousers. "You are unable to sew?"
El nodded with an almost bashful grin and the young monarch could not help the upward tilt of her lips. "I have many skills but sewing is not one of them."
Licking her lips nervously Elsa found the courage to ask, "May I?" El looked surprised but did not deny her request to hand over the trousers, their hands touching briefly but enough to cause a certain sensation to ripple through them. Their eyes shot to each other and Elsa forced herself to look down to the hole, recognizing the breaking of the seams holding the fabric together. "T-This is an easy fix, even someone with no experience could fix this enough." The Queen said quietly.
"Will you show me? It would be nice to know a little and not to constantly go to Lyra for this." A pause, "That is if you still wish for my company."
Blue eyes slowly found their way back up to the almost glowing pools boring into her. "Will you show me something in return?"she found herself saying rather boldly.
"A trade for a trade." El conceded with a small close lip smile.~
Smiling at the memory things between herself and El changed a little more after that, it was also when the rest of the band of mercenaries found out of her seamtressique talent. Ajmal had stated that her silky ice fabric would sell greatly for a hefty price. The trade in question after teaching El how to sew easy fixes was the skill of hunting. It was an odd request but she had always wished to try even when younger and watching her father ride off to do so. True it wasn't quite a necessary skill for a royal (Or at least a female royal from what she's been told) but Elsa liked to be prepared for any and all possibilities as best she could.
She'd thought that would be the end of it once she learned enough though she never brought back a kill finding it hard to do so (El told her its not for everyone but that it is a set of skills to have none the less). How surprised she was to find El trading a skill for her time and company. Elsa had found herself doing things she'd never thought of her self ever actually getting to do. Like fishing, finding she had the patience waiting for a bite but when it came time to reeling it in well she was content to let El deal with the still wriggling fish. Also because of her interest in cooking and healing for so long Elsa knew quite abit about plant and herbs, and thus was allowed (with an escort that wasn't Holden) to gather what she needed for salves and oils.
Having spent so much time with El though Elsa had come to learn many a thing about the female mercenary. Like that she enjoyed working with her hands, finding out that she not only did woodworking but blacksmithing as well. Aside from hunting El enjoyed the wild life and the beauty of the land often writing or drawing in a leather bound journal. If anything Elsa had learned that El enjoyed the simplest of things and that she smiled and laughed more when at ease around Walter, Bear, Ajmal and Lyra. Having witnessed all three men at different times bring a stoned faced El to full on laughter. Elsa learned that El liked to tease and though she was witty at times chose her moments to be so. It was a sight she never thought to ever witness but it was something she didn't mind hearing more often. And when they were alone they often spoke of things they wished for and Elsa asked of the woman's life before becoming who she was now.
El of course spoke very little of that time but she would indulge the Queen with a funny story from her childhood or spoke more of the land she grew up in. Usually however after that a look would often over take her and the subject would drop or El would end what they were doing and leave Elsa be. Though the platinum blonde curious she did not push after all having gotten to learn what she has already she's thanked her lucky star. The smile she had grew wistful as the mention of stars reminded Elsa of the stories and the songs El often sung beneath them a few nights. The first time Elsa heard the other woman do so she was awe struck even more when finding that the flute was the woman's favored instrument.
Shaking away the pleasant memories, Elsa strode forward greeting the other woman. "I see you're back from your scouting." Her heart fluttering when seeing those mystic eyes brighten at the very sound of her voice and the dimpled smile that spread along the other womans lips had Elsa internally swoon.
"Yeah we heard stories about more attacks further up the pass, so we headed up and some of the men volunteered to stay behind to make sure it stays safe enough."
"Are the attacks from those things we encountered before?" El nodded seemingly lost to thought for a moment before replying, "I have no doubt, with winter coming fast…many are traveling through it either to head home or somewhere to endure the cold season." The mercenary then shook her head as if shaking away a thought. She opened her mouth to speak again but was unable to when one of her men came running through camp yelling that those creatures were back. Up ahead terrorizing a caravan of travellers.
Both women looked to each other momentarily, El being the first to run off. Elsa finding it hard to keep up with the other woman…Well she is part wolf..she could distractedly hear Bear yelling out orders for a small group of them to go and help while the others stay here keeping the fires going. Just as she began to fall behind El stopped upbruptly and turned to face her, "You need to stay here."
"I can help."
"Help the wounded when we bring the back." There was more that went unsaid and for a moment Elsa was brought back to the reality of her situation. She wasn't off on some journey, she was taken from her home, her people and being held for ransom and yet the look in those eyes hid something more… "Please your majesty." With a jerky nod Elsa conceded, before stopping the other woman once more. "El…make sure they're safe. All of them."
El's eyes shined with the hint of a smirk on her lips, "I thought you cared not for us vagabonds and brigands."
Elsa had no answer and fought the hard blush she felt spreading from her cheeks down her neck, she didn't break her gaze though as saw those eyes soften at her quiet plea. "As you wish…my Queen." This caused Elsa's eyes to widen but El had already gone off to help the caravan…
The battle for the caravan was over before it began, at least that's what it felt like. The moment El and her small band had charged in killing these creatures the weaker ones fled screeching into the night. When they returned with what was left of the caravan after burning the dead and salvaging what they could of the wagons they headed back to camp few were wounded, none dead. El watched from afar as Elsa help to tend to the wounded, taking note that her iconic hair was now covered under a wool hat, since the nights are colder no one really asked questions.
"Stalking ye prey lass?"
Eyes never leaving the Queen she answered, "Only watching to make sure she tells no one the truth." She heard Bear snort, one of his large arms wrapping around her shoulders. "Never understood ye lian'te ya self…been too long yu forget dunnya know it aint good?"
"You're going to lecture me too huh?"
Bear shook her goodnaturedly if a little violently, "No, just makin an observation." He patted her on the back before walking away and El was glad to be what she is otherwise she knew that she most likely would have been dazed and dizzy after that. Taking a moment to gather herself El went back to her watching, though it became absent minded for her thoughts began to wander to one of the subjects plaguing her. She had been spending a lot of time with the Queen getting to know her more then she ever thought to. Elsa (Only ever thinking just the name privately, and having never said it with out the title or honorific) was a gentle and quiet woman and yet, despite who she was brought up to be there was a fire in her heart (ironically) that drew El to the royal much like the a wolf to the moon. Finding that at times Elsa could be playful and very witty, (once she had witnessed the Queen of Arendelle hold her own against the roughest of her men in a card game.) Kind and gentle and her voice was as beautiful as she herself. When she began mending the clothes for the other men El found that Elsa strided to be the best she can in what she was does. And when they were alone together El oftened asked the Queen about herself, stating she had wished to know the woman beneath the crown, if it was permitted that is…
~ "I'm afraid the only exciting aspect about myself, other then my magic…is the fact that I am Queen…nothing more then that." Elsa's voice soft with a solemn undertone.
"So there is nothing you would like to do, had you no duties to fill your day back home?"El stopped to rest from chopping wood, wiping the sweat from her brow, eyeing the blonde woman curiously. She saw a spark in those icy blue eyes and waited for an answer.
"I…well I've always wanted to learn to dance…" Elsa finally answered softly.
"It's nots very hard…whether by yourself or with a partner."
"I.." El watched as a memory flashed within those blue pools and Elsa had to turn away seemingly not wanting to answer.
"I apologize if my questions bring hurt…its not what I intended."
Elsa snapped her gaze back to the mercenary, surprise evident in her eyes. "Is that not what you were hired for?"
"I was hired to take a Queen from her home for an unspecified amount of time. Nothing was said about being unable to return her…or to harm her."
The Queen slowly grew a small smile, her eyes hopeful. "That is not something I don't think I ever expected to hear…considering the circumstances."
It was El's turn to smile, "This entire job has been full of them, I would not lose hope your majesty to the chance of seeing you home again." When it seemed that their conversation was over El went back to chopping wood pausing mid strike when hearing the other woman say, "During the years of separation from my sister…I always found myself far off on wild adventures in the pages of books…I had always dreamed of doing some of the things I read about but I…"
Lowering the axe El turned face the Queen once more, "Have you ever shot a bow?"
"Very few times when I was younger…it was something my father didn't really push for me to learn." Elsa answered curiously
"Why don't we start there then."~
From that point on El showed the young monarch how hunt and track, how to fish, even so much as showing her how to defend herself should one day her magic prove useless. It began though a trade for a trade but as time drew on she realized that she just wanted to spend time with the platinum blonde. It was a bit hypocritical considering what she had previously told Lyra in the beginning but…when was she ever one for the rules? Especially the ones she made for herself.
Seeing that Elsa was finished with helping El jogged over greeting the young monarch softly, "For someone who's so used to being alone, you're great with people."
Elsa turned at the comment with a shy smile, "I was just trying to make them feel comfortable."
"It shows." El grinned motioning for the other woman to walk with her. They walked quietly at first mostly lost to their thoughts, Elsa's going back to what El had said before rushing off to help the travellers. There was a noticeable heaviness to the air around them for it and Elsa figured that El must be thinking of what she was herself. Internally arguing about whether or not she should bring up the subject after all from what she knows El had a great hate for royals…at least from El's behavior had shown.
"I-"
"Do-"
Both women stopped realizing they spoke in unison
"Sorry you-" realizing they'd done it again both burst into a fit of giggles, It was a sound neither expected from the other and so it turned into full on laughter. When it died down Elsa watched as El rubbed at the back of her neck nervously. It was a sight to see coming from the normally sure woman, "Are you alright?" she asked softly studying the mercenary.
"Yes…fine just nervous is all."
"You never have been before..at least with me." The Queen quirked a brow.
El chuckled nodding in agreement, "I was just better at hiding it before…"
Now Elsa was curious, the path they were walking was toward El's tent. "Before?" she asked pausing when they came to the entrance of the tent. El motioned for her to go inside following and began to restart a fire, when the flames began to grow is when the mercenary spoke again. "You make me nervous Queen Elsa…"
"I never would have guessed" Elsa teased in hopes to lighten up the mood a bit. The smile El gave let her know it was appreciated.
"It seems we enjoy surprising each other." El teased back. Elsa felt her heart flutter at the look she was receiving from El and had to look away, blushing from the attention. That's not to say she wasn't use to attention much like this but the looks that were given from potential suitors who had come within the last year were in her opinion hollow and unwanted. But receiving it from this mercenary, this woman who she has gotten to know in the last few months had her heart pounding and her skin to tingle with just a simple glance.
"About earlier…" There it is…She thought looking over to catch El's gaze with her own. "I…you…" the mercenary cleared her throat then taking a pause to find the words seemingly too hard to speak or felt weren't right for what she wanted to say. Deciding to make it a little easier, "I was surprised…not that it was bad but surprised none the less…so you're words are truth."
El nervously swallowed finding a little bit of ease at that, before bringing forth her courage. "I meant it…what I said."
Instead of sitting as stunned (because she was by that confession.) Elsa fought her spreading blush replying with, "I-I thought you hated royals." She cursed her self for stuttering, though what she really wanted to say was I thought you hated me.
"I never hated you." Was El's quick reply seeing the true question in those icy blue eyes. She smirked when seeing the flush the Queen had spread further down her neck. After stoking the fire she walked over to the blushing monarch, her features softening the closer she grew closing the distance until standing face to face with the Queen of Arendelle.
Elsa could feel that gaze burning into her, never breaking and gasped when hearing the other woman walk closer. When looking back up instead of at the ground or more or less the boots she could hear her own heart beat in her ears. Blue eyes traveled up along a strong body to a sharp but strong jaw and mouth past a nose and then finally landing on those eyes that seemed to haunt her so and yet did not mind herself being their target of attention. "I could say the same." She found herself saying with out thinking much about it, after all it was the truth.
"I must apologize your majesty for how I was in the beginning of our journey."
"If you are apologizing for that…then I find I must do so too. I acted just as harshly."
"You had every right." El argued, "I…we took you from your home, from your family. You have every right to be angry…even now."
"Yet I'm not…only missing my sister and my people…I am not angry with you El or the others. I understand now that this situation is much more then it seems." Elsa meant what she was saying, for she believed it now that there was more this then she had previously known before. This band was just a group like many other trying to survive as best they can, even if it meant such things like kidnapping royalty.
"You are not what I had been expecting." El replied softly, gaze never breaking its hold.
Licking her lip Elsa asked nervously, "What were…you expecting?" I could say the same…were her thoughts.
"I'm not sure to be perfectly honest…but I'm glad I was wrong." A heavy pause and then, "You didn't reveal yourself…why?" El asked finding herself move a hand to the hat Elsa wore only to stop just before touching it.
"Should I have?" Elsa breathed becoming hypnotized by thoughs eyes.
El swallowed the dryness in her throat, "Any body else would have…" she murmured beginning to lean in.
"El…" the woman named paused, "May I…your Majesty…"
"Elsa…call me…Elsa…"
El paused just as their noses bumped, "Elsa…" she breathed the name, tasting it on her tongue as if speaking it for the first time in her life. It felt different to say it this way and yet…Their lips met hesitant and unsure soon though they found a rhythm. El let Elsa take the lead though she was pleasantly surprised when finding the blonde searching for more with her tongue. Opening her lips to receive it they both moaned when both muscles touched and tangled for the first time.
Elsa step forward letting her instincts guide her, hands moving to hold the other woman's face and neck. She wasn't sure if she was doing this right and it felt a little awkward at first (Elsa thought that she would have bit El's lip or something) but when the mercenary didn't pull away she continued, and when she added her tongue…oh god the sound that came from El she never would have thought that she would be doing something like this…nor with whom. The Queen hummed when a pair of hands held on to her waist, pulling her flush against a strong sturdy body. El's heat was a welcoming sensation one she would take gladly…hell she even felt the stirrings of it deep within herself…
And then just as quickly as it began the kiss came to an end, when their eyes opened it was to the sight of the other covered in a light layer of snow. Tiny flakes wispping about as if the smallest of birds looking for a perch. Before either could say a word Walter came through the tent flap, "I think winter-" he paused taking in the two of them, "I…um its snowing outside."
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